Abilene's gasoline prices jumped 25 cents per gallon in the last week, according to the Reporter-News' weekly gasoline price survey.

The increase is the largest weekly increase in at least seven years, according to newspaper files.

On Monday evening, one store on the corner of South 11th and Treadaway was selling gas for $2.59 a gallon, while across the street a store was selling gas for $2.27, a 32-cent difference. The cheaper station has since raised its price.

AAA Texas on Thursday reported the average price at the pump statewide rose 4 cents this week to reach $2.37. Gasoline prices across the country increased 3 cents to reach an average $2.59 per gallon.

The association survey found San Antonio has the cheapest gasoline in Texas this week at an average $2.30 per gallon. Drivers in Midland and Odessa face the state's highest gasoline prices at an average of $2.55 per gallon in the AAA survey.

AAA experts say crude oil has been selling for higher rates the past few months and those market prices are now trickling down to consumers.

“Higher than normal consumer gasoline demand mixed with rising crude oil prices are causing Texans to pay 22 cents more per gallon, on average, when they fill up their tanks compared to one year ago,” said Daniel Armbruster, AAA Texas/AAA New Mexico Senior Public Affairs specialist in a news release.

AAA, which surveys different stations than the newspaper, reported a 22-cent increase for Abilene, the biggest jump in the state. Brownsville-Harlingen had the second highest increase at 20 cents per gallon.